There are these loss-making lines because of trains that are not full enough, or because customers are not paying enough.
The SNCF is considering resolving the second case by targeting “commuters”, these TGV subscribers who, for a monthly fee, can travel for free several times a week.
Often, they work in the capital but live in a provincial town, where the quality of life is better and property prices are lower.
Paris-Reims (Marne) and Paris-Tours (Indre-et-Loire), less than an hour and a half by TGV, are at the top of the routes concerned.
10% more for Max Active on February 1st
Given the “insufficient contribution” despite “robust demand”, it is written in an internal SNCF document that we were able to consult, these connections do not, or only barely, achieve profitability.
The railway company would therefore consider making greater use of these “commuters” in the years to come.
“The price of the subscriptions was probably not high enough,” slips a railway worker.
A train, even full, with only subscribers cannot therefore be profitable.
Also read: Lack of profitability, arrival of competition… These TGV lines in danger
From February 1, the monthly payments for Max Actif subscriptions will increase by 10%, and by 5% for Max Actif +.
A new increase after that of 2023, which peaked at 5%.
20,000 people have one or the other offer.
Concretely, a TGV Max Actif subscription in second class on Paris-Lyon goes from 360 to 396 euros, from 312 to 343 euros to travel between Paris and Reims, or from 331 to 364 euros to reach the capital from Tours.
“It’s absolutely scandalous when we see the quality of service deteriorating,” denounces the collective of users of the Tours-Paris line.
In ten years, this represents an increase of 40%.
» The price to pay to perpetuate the line.